Research Provides Clue About How Bacteria and Infection Spread
May 9, 2007
A new study by researchers at Children’s and the University of Washington School of Medicine finds Staphylococcus aureus bacteria may produce a substance that prevents people from being able to fight off infection. “Staph” bacteria are responsible for a growing number of hospital and community-acquired diseases including skin, pneumonia, bone and bloodstream infections. The study was published in the May 1, 2007 issue of Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Globally, Staphylococcus infections have increased over the past few decades. There are also newer, antibiotic-resistant strains occurring with increased prevalence, so these research findings may shed important light on human immune response. Staphylococcus aureus, in particular, can commonly cause pneumonia. In this study, nasal passages of mice were infected with staphylococcal bacteria, causing symptoms resembling those of human pneumonia. Staphylococcus aureus was found to produce the protein staphylokinase, which appears to undermine immune response by breaking down blood clots the immune system produces to help “wall off” bacteria to keep it localized within the body.
According to Craig E. Rubens, MD, PhD, chief of pediatric infectious disease at Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute, these data suggest that producing staphylokinase may be a mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus increases virulence, leading to enhanced invasive infection. “The Staphylococcus aureus protein staphylokinase surprisingly binds to a secondary protein in the lung. This encourages faster breakdown of blood clots, which we believe promotes bacterial spread from the lung to other parts of the body,” said Rubens. “This may provide clues to how bacteria start infections, how they spread, and how to improve immune defense mechanisms. Better understanding of how Staphylococcus aureus causes infection and exploits the immune system may result in improved prevention and treatment.”
Ongoing research at Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute will continue to study Staphylococcus aureus infections in children. Other Children’s researchers included lead investigator Marissa H. Braff and Amanda L. Jones, and Shawn J. Skerrett from the University of Washington School of Medicine.
For a complete copy of the study, please visit: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/513277
About Seattle Children's Research Institute
At the forefront of pediatric medical research, Seattle Children's Research Institute has nine major centers, and is internationally recognized for advancing discoveries in cancer, genetics, immunology, pathology, infectious disease, injury prevention and bioethics. In its quest to cure childhood disease, the research institute brings discoveries to the bedside in partnership with Seattle Children's Hospital and Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation. Together they are Seattle Children's, known for setting new standards in superior patient care for more than 100 years. Children's serves as the primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which consistently ranks as one of the best pediatric departments in the country. For more information visit http://research.seattlechildrens.org/.